stephens



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. S. STEPHENS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 600,240. Patented Mar. 8,1898.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsHSheet 2.

J. S. STEPHENS.

. ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 600.240. Patented Mar. 8,1808.

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(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 8, 1898.

f @s M 40 HIHIIIHII Wmme@ UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEFFERSON S. STEPHENS, OF W'ASl-IINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,240, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed April l 5, 1 8 9 7.

To all whom t may concern/.-

Beit known that I, JEFFERsoN S. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'ashington, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rotary engines, and has for its object to provide in connection with a rotating cylinder two or more pistons carried thereby and adapted to contact with the inner side of a stationary cylinder throughout nearly the entire inner surface of said stationary cylinder, thereby increasing the effectiveness and power of the engine.

The improved engine is adapted to be run either by steam, water, or any other fluid or liquid under pressure.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in a rotary engine embodying certain novel features and details of construction and relative arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a rotary engine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Eig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the revolving cylinder. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the packing or following head. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the removable head of the inner rotating cylinder. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the eccentric-straps, showing also the pistons carried thereby. Fig. 7 is a cross -section through the eccentric-straps, showing their tongue-and-groove engagement. Fig. S is a detail longitudinal section through the steamchest, showing the slit-valve. Fig. 9 is a detail elevation of a portion of one side of the engine, showing the reversing-lever.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the Serial No. 632,320. (No model.)

main body of the engine, which is substantially in the form of a cylinder, having a broad base 2, hollowed out upon its under side, as indicated at 3, to make room for the heads of the screws or bolts whereby the piston-seat is adjusted.

Extending through the stationary cylinder or body 1 is a main driving-shaft 4, which is mounted in the heads of the stationary cylinder and in bearings secured thereto and also in bearing-standards 7, located upon each side of the engine and at a distance therefrom, which will permit the removable head 5 of the stationary cylinder to be detached for giving access to the interior thereof when necessary. Mounted fast upon the shaft 4 is a fly-wheel 6, and this shaft may also have mounted fast thereon a band-pulley, through which power may be transmitted from the engine to the machine to be driven.

8 designates the inner revolving cylinder which carries the pistons 9, the cylinder S being provided at diametrically opposite points with peripheral radial recesses 10,into which the pistons slide in radial lines. The cylinder 8 is also provided in its periphery with openings 11, which communicate with the recesses l0 under the pistons 9, so as to normally force said pistons upward against the inner surface of the stationary cylinder 1, thereby preserving a close contact between said parts and preventing the same from passing between the pistons and stationary cylinder. The pistons 9 are provided with inwardly extending and radially disposed stems 12, which carry at their inner ends rectangular and substantially square eccentric-straps 13, having open centers and provided upon their opposite or outer sides with reversely-disposed flanges 14, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The stem 12 is provided at one end with a right-hand thread and at the opposite end with a lefthand thread, so that by turning said stem in one direction the strap 13 and piston 9 will be forced apart, while by turning the stem in the opposite direction the said parts will be drawn closer to each other, thus enabling the proper contact to be had between the piston 9 and the inner surface of the stationary cylinder. One of the straps 13 is provided upon its inner surface with ribs or tongues l5 and IOO to the straps 13, and both heads are provided with recesses 20 to receive and permit the movements of the pistons 9.

Surrounding the shaft 4 is a stationary cam 21, which is arranged in a position adapting it to actagainst the inner surfaces of the straps 13. Arranged at one side of the cam 21 is a stationary collar 22, between which and the camv operates one of the flanges 14 of the'straps 13. At the opposite side of t e cam is a stationary hub or collar 23, between which and the cam operates the other iange 14 of the remaining strap 13. The cam 2l and the collars 22 and 23 are all formed with alining openings to receive a rod or shaft 24, which passes through said parts and also through the fixed head of the stationary cylinder, thereby securely holding said parts and preventing their rotation. The inner edge of the flange 14 of each strap 13 when in its uppermost position bears upon the upper rod or shaft 24, and when reversed or in its lowermost position it bears against the under side of the main shaft 4. At all times the ange 14 is practically out of contact with both of said shafts, and the position of the piston is influenced and controlled by the engagement between the inner surface of the strap 13 and the cam proper,21. At the lowest point of the throw of the pistons said pistons come in contact with a transverse seat 25, arranged at the bottom of the stationary cylinder.\ By means of the particular construction of the cam and the arrangement of the shafts 4 and 24, taken in connection with the formof the straps 13, the pistons 9 contact with the inner surface of the cylinder soon after leaving the seat 25, thus making said pistons eective during the greater portion of their stroke. On each side of the seat 25 are seat extensions 26, which insure the lifting of the pistons 9 for causing them to pass onto the seat 25 and preventing them from catching against the edges of said seat and thus stopping the engine.

Outside of the removable head 19 of the l inner cylinder is a backing-head 27, which fits closely within a stationary cylinder and is provided with a recess or notch 28 to iit over the seat 25. The head 27 is free to slide inward and is forced into close contact with the inner cylinder by meansof a screw-sleeve 29, which screws into an opening 30 in the outer removable head of the stationary cylinder and in which the main shaft 4 is mounted. The stationary head 18 of the inner cylinder is provided with detachable Vrings 31, which cost, thus increasing the durability and life` of the engine. The same expedient may be resorted to at the opposite side of the inner .cylinder and at other points where excessive wear occurs.

The seat 25 is mounted in a mortise or recess 32 in the base 2, so that it may be moved up and down. Extending through the Abottom of the base 2 are five bolts-a central bolt or tap-screw 33 for effecting a raising and loweringof the adjustable seat 25, and other bolts or tap-screws 34, which have a threaded engagement with the sliding seat for holding the latter fixed in its adj usted position. This renders it possible to produce a close contact between the pistons and seat and to compensate for wear.

Upon the outside of the removable head 5 is located a steam-chest 35, having supplyports 36, which extend through the head 5 and base 2 and communicate with the interior of the stationary cylinder at the points 37 at cach side of the seat 25, so that when steam is admitted through one of said ports it will drive the engine in one direction and when admitted at the other side it will drive the cylinder in a reverse direction. Intermediate the supply-ports 36 is an exhaustport 38, which communicates with an exhaustopening 39 in the base 2 leading to the opposite side of the engine or any convenient point.

40 designates a slide-valve which is hollow upon one side, as indicated at 41, and which is of sucient length to simultaneously cover one supply and the exhaust port when slid in one direction and when slid in the opposite direction to cover the exhaust-port and the remaining inlet-port while opening the other supply or inlet port. The valve 40 is provided at one end with a rod or stem 42, which extends through a stuffing-box in one end of the chest, where it connects with areversing-lever 43, mounted upon the body of the engine at one side.

Stufng-boxes may be provided in the inner cylinder, through which the stems 12 of the eccentric-straps and pistons pass, and at other points wherever a tight joint is needed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple, compact, and effective rotary engine is provided and that the same may be run either by-steam or other suitable agent.

Suitable provision may be made for oiling the operative parts of the engine wherever friction occurs, and other changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed'as new is- 1. In a rotary engine, a stationary cylin- Ioo IIO

der, a rotary cylinder mounted therein and mounted on a revoluble shaft journaled in the head of the stationary cylinder, in coinbination with a stationary cam surrounding the main shaft, stationary collars arranged at each side of said cam and spaced apart therefrom, a rod or shaft arranged parallel to the main shaft and extending through said cam and collars and connecting the same rigidly to one head of the stationary cylinder, radially-movable pistons carried by the inner cylinder, and straight-sided eccentric-straps connected to said pistons and surrounding said cams and also having iianges which enter between the cam and stationary collars on the main shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, a stationary cylin- JEFFERSON S. STEPHENS.

Vitnesses:

EDWD. B. FOX, REXFORD M. SMITH. 

